Georgian FM, OSCE Chair-in-Office review cooperation, security, foreign transparency law

Ongoing developments in Georgia and the “difficult” humanitarian situation in the country’s Russian-occupied territories were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and Ian Borg, the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

The officials reviewed “ongoing processes” in the OSCE and challenges facing the organisation, with Darchiashvili confirming Georgia's “readiness” to contribute to solving them, the Georgian foreign office said.

He also thanked Malta, as the OSCE chair country, for supporting Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The meeting highlighted the importance of the involvement of the OSCE co-chairs in the Geneva International Discussions - the platform used for talks between Georgian officials and de facto authorities in the Russian-occupied regions.

Darchiashvili provided updated information on the “difficult” situation in the occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions.

The discussions also reviewed the adoption of the Georgian law on transparency of foreign influence, with the FM noting the “sole purpose” of the law was to “ensure transparency”.

The Georgian side expressed its readiness, within the framework of the expected veto on the law by the country’s President, to consider “all legal notes” about the controversial law by international partners.

The officials also discussed the Georgian parliamentary elections scheduled for October, with Darchiashvili noting the goal of the Government was to conduct “transparent, free and fair” elections in accordance with international standards and highlighting its willingness to “help international observers perform their functions effectively”.